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Throw under the Bus

What Does "Throw under the Bus" Mean?

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"Throw under the bus" is an English idiom. It means "to betray or sacrifice someone for personal gain or to avoid blame."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "throw under the bus" used in a sentence:
  • He was quick to throw his colleague under the bus to save his own reputation.
  • It's unethical to throw your team members under the bus when a project goes wrong; it's better to take collective responsibility.
  • In the world of politics, it's not uncommon for individuals to throw each other under the bus to advance their careers.
meaning for throw under the bus

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Throw under the Bus" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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